Disk water-meter



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. THOMSON.

DISK WATER METER.

No. 485,437. Patented Nov. 1, 1892 61 kl'ozne to (No Model.) 3Sheets-Sheet 2. 4

J. THOMSON. DISK WATER METER.

No. 485,437. Patented Nov. 1, 1892.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

- J. THOMSON.

DISK WATER METER. k

485,437. Patented Nov. 1, 1892. I V

lxhtmeoo-e/a If": NORRIS PETER; co. mormJmq. WAS mm", o, c:

UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFIC JOHN THOMS N, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.ASSIGNOR TO THE THOMSON HYDRAULIC COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

DIS K WATER-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 485,437, dated November1, 1892.

Application filed May 31, 1892. $erial No. 434,999. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN THOMSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, Kings county, State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Disk Water-Meters, of which thefollowing is a=specification.

Thisinvention relates to disk watermeters; and it consists in detailimprovements upon the invention shown and described in my application ofFebruary 18, 1892, Serial No. 422,015. Therefore the followingdescription will refer specifically to the present modifications.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section of a metershowing my improvements. Fig. 2 isa top plan view of the lower casingand the disk, the diaphragm shown in section and the disk tilted up toliein ahorizontal plane for convenience and clearness of illustration.Fig. 3 is a detail top plan view of the lower casing. Fig. 4 is a detailtransverse sectional view on the lines A and B of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is adetail plan viewof the internal speed-reducing gear-train. Fig. 6 is adetail view of the gasket. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detached sectionaldetail through the flanges and the gasket. Fig. 8 isa part elevation andsection of the diaphragm of the ball and the disk.

The first improvement'relates to the flanges and the gasket. In the saidprevious application the upper and lower casings 10 11, which form thespherical contour of the diskchamber, are shown as being guided togethercentrally by the periphery of the flange of the upper casing entering abearing formed in the outer diameter of the flange of the lower casing.When constructed in this manner it can only be inferred that the facecontact-surfaces Of the flanges are together, and as it is oftendesirable to have ocular demonstration that the said faces'of theflanges are in absolute contact with each other I have arranged theflanges in the manner shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein itWlll be seen thatiithe casings are guided together by the internal wall12 of the recess 13 of one casing, to which the inner cylindricalbearing 14 of the other casing is adapted. Thus the flanges will bedrawn together by the flangebolts against the resistance of the gasketuntil the inner face contact-surfaces 15 and the outer facecontact-surfaces 16 impinge upon each other. Hence as the edges of theouter surfaces are exposed there can be no question as to the properrelative adjustment of the casings. In this connection I have also foundit desirable to provide the molded gum-rubber gasket 17 with a pluralityof holes or indentations, as 17 disposed between the boltholes, as 18,whereby when the flanges are drawn together the rubber will thus be freeto flow within the recess provided therefor, not only externally, butinternally, thus equalizing the resistance between the flange-bolts andalso reducing the quantity of rubber required.

The second improvement is in utilizing the lower frustum 19 to form aseparately-receiving channel or chamber 20 in the lower disk-chambercasing instead of providing a cored channel, as shown in the saidapplica tion, Serial No. 422,015, the function of this receiving-channelbeing to conduct water to the inlet-port. The advantage of this is thatby simply securing the frustum to its bearing in the casing, as by meansof the screw 21, the casting of the lower casing is simplified and lessmaterial is required.

The third improvement relates to the diaphragm 7, and consists informing it with a rib, as 22, upon one of its face-surfaces to I preferto form this rib by stamping or embossing it out of the body of thediaphragm. The advantage of this construction is that freedisplacement-spaces are provided at and around the edges of the diskwithout rem-oving material from the disk.

The fourth improvement relates to means for controlling the thrust ofthe disk, which consists of the freely-mounted bearing-pin 24,preferably situated diametrically opposite to the bearing edge of thedisk and adapted to operate in a vertical slot 25, formed in the wallsof the casings. In this wise the thrust of the disk due to the flow ofthe water may be resisted by two points of control. The bearing-pin mayhave an enlarged head, as shown, or be provided with a roll to reducethe friction. The said bearing-pin may also serve as a bearing for theedge 23 of the disk.

be employed separately, no contact .being made upon the diaphragm.

The fifth improvement consists in the design of the ball 1 and disk 2,whereby they maybe made of hard rubber molded together as one part withsuificient accuracy not to require additional finishing. Attempts inthis direction heretofore have been unsuccessful, in that the greaterthickness or mass of the ball as compared to the distribution ofmaterial in the disk has resulted in unequal and variable shrinkages.This I overcome by the simple expedient of providing the diewith aninwardly-projecting metal core central to the ball, vertical to theplane of the disk, so that the heat during the vulcanizing process isconducted to the ball both from. the exterior and from the interiorthereof, and owing to the uniformityof heat conduction thus effectedthis important member of this meter may notonly be made very accurately,but, what is even of greater importance, with the utmost uniformity. Bynot passing the metal core entirely through the ball, but projecting itinwardly from either side, the ball 1 is thus produced with twocylindrical openings 3 4, leaving a partition 5 in its center, whichprovides a convenient and rigid base for the attachment-of thedisk-spindle 6,as shown.

Thesixth improvement-also relates toythe ball and disk, and consists informing a plurality of grooves, as 26, in the surface of the balland theperipheral surface of thedisk, the objectiof WhlGhiS toprovide-clearancespaceswherein particles of sand or other foreignmaterial liable to be forced between the bearing-surfaces may enterthese spaces and eventually work their way out instead of being retainedto wear and cut the bearings.

.The seventh improvement relates to jthe manner of applying theinternaloreducing gear-train to the meter. The type of geartrain hereemployed is fullydescribed and shown in my application of February.2,1892, Serial No. 420,046. The present improvement consists in applyingthe freedifferential gear-wheel 27, having a journal 28,.to a bearingformed in the main casing and in then securing the fixed differentialgear 29, as by means of the screws 30, directly, to the the recess 31,also formed within the main casing. In this wise no additional mountingwhatever is required, the lower fixed gear serving to provide thejournal 32 for the controlling-block 33, as well as for the pivot 34 ofthe primary driving-pinions 35, while free differential gear isconnected to the stuffingboX spindle 36. The advantage of thisarrangement and disposal is a considerable reduction in the number ofparts, in the material, andin the operations heretofore required. Theassemblage is also very simple, the gears being virtually dropped intoposition.

1. The combination, with the disk suitably mounted, of the diaphragmhaving a raised bearing-rib, substantially as described.

2. The combination,with the disk-chamber casing having a slot 25 formedin the spherical wall thereof, of a disk mounted in the easingandprovided with a bearing-pin acting within theslot, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a disk water-meter, a disk; provided with a ball havingcylindrical openingson opposite sides of. the ball anda rigid centralpartition between the openings and a diskspindle rigidly mounted in saidpartition, substantially as described.

4-1a a disk water-meter, a diskuhaving grooves in its peripheralsurface, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. Ina disk Water-meter, a disk provided with a ball having grooves inits surface, substantially as described.

6. Ina disk water-meter, the combination, with the maln upper recessedcasing forming .aportionof the spherical contour of the diskchamber, ofthe free differential gea1i27, provided-withajournal, 28,-mounted inabearing in the maincasing and connected to the stuffing-boxSPiIldIGyfilld the fixed differential gear29, fittin the-recess in saidcasing and secured thereto and provided-with a journal 32,lfor thecontrolling-blocko33 and for the pivot3-t of the primary driving-pinion.35, substantially. as described. In testimony whereof I have signed 1my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

JOHN THOMSON. Witnesses:

ROBERT S. CHAPPELL,

JoHN lVICKINNON.

